Flight company Iberia has cancelled 122 national and international flights today following the strike confirmed by the pilots adhering to the SEPLA union and protesting against the creation of the low-cost branch ''Iberia Express''.

The stop was confirmed after the company's announcement at the start of the week of a series of measures to contain costs by 8%, including salary reductions of 12% resulting in an even greater divide between the two parts. Spanish media claim that according to sources within the company, the measures will also include an increase in the pilots' working hours and holiday leave to be taken outside summer months which is when the company enjoys its period of greatest activity.

Also part of the changes are the suppression of a number of benefits decided by previous round-table agreements and which have the objective of increasing productivity by 26%, creating savings of 52.4 million euros.

Currently at least 25% of Iberia pilots take their holidays in the months of June, July and August whereas the company aims to make them take their leave ''according to the activity of the company'' and includes eliminating any extra holidays matured by senior employees. The pilots have opted for a strike of a total of 30 days.

They have been striking every Monday and Friday since last April 6 and will continue until July 20. Until now the summoning of a meeting in front of the Infrastructure Ministry to bring the two sides closer has not proved to have had any effect. (ANSAmed).